Almost done with the coop

In 3 weeks the chicks have gone from this...

To this...

YIKES! right?  At this point the Cornish Rocks can be butchered and be called a "Cornish Hen".  We are going to let them get bigger and uglier. They will be in the freezer or table in 4-5 weeks. The Amerucaunas are very friendly and fun to watch.  In addition we have 15 chicks coming this week.  Possibly tomorrow very early in the morning!  Apparently the post office likes them gone as soon as they come in which could be 6 am.  Good thing we only live 1/2 a block from the post office.

Scott has been working hard in the sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow to get the outstide coop done.  It's basically ready for chicks we just need the weather to cooperate.  But with a Winter Storm (in late April!!)headed our way, all will have to sit tight for a while.  We'd like to paint the inside of the coop but the weather has to warm up.  Can you hear me Mother Nature? While we wait, the plans for the run outside the coop are being put on paper.



Week 2 with chicks

The chicks have been with us for the last 9 days and are getting BIGGGER every day.  It's amazing to watch them change and develop personalities.  The kids have named them all and even though we don't know for sure which ones are males and which ones are females, from left to right starting in the upper left corner pictured is, George, Henrietta, Bubbles, Frankfurter, Brenda and Amelia.  We are not getting too attached to the Cornish Rocks.  They will be on the table or in the freezer by the end of May.  As crazy as it seems, we will be adding to the group in about 2 weeks.  We've ordered Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons.  We also are hoping the weather warms up so that when the new chicks arrive we will be able transition the older chicks to the coop outside.

This fast growth and addition of new chicks has prompted us to get the coop built.  Its amazing what a long day of hard work will get you.  Floor and 2 walls are in complete with insulation and an insulated screen/storm door found at a home building resale shop.  Next up will be a ceiling, insulation and interior walls, perches, nesting boxes, hanging feeders and waterer, rubber flooring and a door to the outside run.  Still a ways to go but most of the dirty hard work is done.